Prey

Arkane Studios has captured in Prey everything they learned in the previous years with important references such as Bioshock or Dishonored. Prey returns with an wide-open adventure, but one that is equally contained in a closed space, as the Talos I. The gameplay is just a beast in its genre offering multiple options to the player, who will be forced to learn in order to survive in this hostile environment.

Prey starts strong, then gets better and better as its compelling narrative gradually unfolds, and new terrors stalk the confines of Talos I. A sci-fi survival masterclass, Prey is quite simply sublime.

Prey is what you would expect to find should Bioshock and Dead Space cross paths. With a great story that is full of choice and multiple endings, a fantastic atmosphere and some of the most unique enemies seen in a horror game, this is one game that’s fully deserving of praise.

Prey expertly blends a compelling narrative with open level design, a fear-inducing mechanic and near-unparalleled player freedom to deliver an appealing, atmospheric and aesthetically pleasing chunk of sci-fi that will get sink its spiky teeth into you and never let go.

Prey is simply exceptional. The story is twisting and confusing in a way that is exciting, and it makes you crave the next scene. The survival-horror approach to combat and gameplay creates the right amount of tension, while the crafting elements and ability to use almost anything in the world allows for emergent solutions thanks to the different approaches to almost every situation. Most of the flaws are technical in nature, and they're not enough to severely impact the game, so Prey earns its place as one of the hallmarks of this platform generation.

Prey is easily one of the best games to come out this year, and I highly recommend picking it up if you’re a fan of BioShock or Dishonored. Arkane skillfully wove together a cohesive narrative, engaging gameplay elements, and a vast environment open to the player. Talos I is an incredible achievement in design and the world of Prey is as intriguing as it is chilling. Its performance issues can be bothersome but aren't a huge detriment to an otherwise excellent game.

As a whole, Prey is a great game. Difficult to classify, full of choices, with an extraordinary sci-fi setting and most of all, with a marked personality. If you want an excellent adventure, there are so many reasons for not missing this game, such as the huge number of influences underlying it.

Proving that Arkane Studios has no shortage of interesting ideas, Prey is the perfect blend of thrilling action and thought provoking story.

A surprisingly deep game recalling classics like Half-Life and System Shock, with a very compelling story and complex and challenging gameplay that gives great freedom to the player. Some control problems, slightly too long loading times and far from shining graphics keep it from reaching its full potential, but we're definitely facing a new unmissable Arkane Studios gem.

Prey, despite all the faults and setbacks I have noted, is actually a quality game from start to finish. It has plenty of content that will keep you air locked in for hours on end, and given the faults, you'll be spending so much time exploring that you may not even regard them as faults at all. After 10 years the gaming world was ready for another Prey, and Arkane Studios was up for the challenge and they succeeded more than they failed. Prey does deliver a sound introduction to an IP that has seen a troubled development process, and yes even though there are some drawbacks, there is a tremendous foundation for an incredible future. Do I think Prey could be game of the year? No. Do I think Arkane Studios could make Prey into an amazing gaming series? Yes.

Prey has so much gameplay and objectives to accomplish it takes quite a long time to see what all the game has to offer if you choose to do everything. I didn't do every side mission and the game took me around 37 hours to complete. The game is tense and addicting throughout the entire campaign and it's a joy to play. Despite a few shortcoming, it's definitely one of the best games I have played so far this year and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of first person shooter RPGs such as Deus Ex or BioShock.

Prey is a solid gaming experience in which we discover the secrets of the alien DNA investigation committed by TranStar. Its emergent narrative and cohesion between main and secondary missions augur us more than 25 hours of interesting and varied search of the truth aboard the Talos I.

Prey is a one of a kind experience which has a huge world, a thrilling story and very rich content. It would be most appealing to fans of science fiction shooters.

Despite those rough patches, Prey is wholly engrossing, begging the player to solve Talos 1’s many mysteries. It works well as a shooter, a stealth game and carries an 70s sci-fi vibe that is nothing short of a delight to experience.

The aliens don't quite cut it, but Prey offers one of gaming's best settings in years. [July 2017, p.73]

Prey is a game that makes you question what you're seeing with your own eyes. The shooter caters to almost every playstyle by allowing players to extensively customise their character, choose the best course of action and make their own moral judgements. There are surprises hidden in almost every corner and the most rewards are given to players who take the time to explore the large environment that is Talos-1, both through physical rewards and the extra lore that is tucked away through optional interactions. If you prefer games that allow you to run and gun through a linear story then this isn't for you, but if you like to experience a game at your own pace and in your own way, you can't go wrong with Prey.

Coming into this game expecting maybe an above average alien shooter, I was actually really impressed. It has the makings of a BioShock or System Shock while keeping it fresh with new abilities and full exploration to play how I wanted. The horror elements are there and work well, and while the story isn’t the best out there, it is enough to keep people playing. If you’re looking for a new horror game or even a game much like Dishonored where freedom to do what you want is the main crux, Prey is the game for you.

Prey’s curious alternate-history universe, intriguing sidequests, hidden threats, and detailed environmental storytelling make Talos I a joy to explore. The unsettling sense of paranoia that comes from knowing any object could turn out to be a hidden enemy gives even the quiet moments a palpable tension. All of that picks up the slack for combat and stealth that doesn’t feel fresh enough to sustain it throughout what can be a long game.

Despite its issues, Prey is an enjoyable first-person shooter which begs you to explore its wonderfully crafted and at times awe-inspiring world.

Everything Prey needed to succeed is in there, somewhere, but it doesn't gel. The game is too undefined, too broad in its ambition and application of its powers, spaces and weapons, that it fails to find and carve out its own identity. [Issue#188, p.69]